Florida coach Jim McElwain might be in a world of hurt right now if it weren’t for Will Muschamp. The defense recruited and coached by the former Florida head coach is one of the main reasons the Gators are currently 4-0 instead of 1-3.

In the last three games, UF’s opponents (East Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee) each had a final possession trailing by seven points or less. All three were unable to score, and the Gators are undefeated.

Calling the 2015 defense a “Muschamp defense” because of the recruitment and previous coaching doesn’t take away from the job done by current defensive coordinator Geoff Collins. When Collins got started at Florida, he told the players he wasn’t going to force new terminology on them, but instead adapt his terminology to concepts and ideas they were familiar with from the previous coaching staff. The defense certainly was not broken, and nobody asked Collins to fix it.

Collins has placed added emphasis on getting to the ball and forcing turnovers, a perfect fit for a defense with a loaded secondary. The Gators have gained seven takeaways this season, enough to place them near the top of the country. While it’s difficult to replace the defensive expertise of Muschamp, McElwain has already brought on two ace position coaches in Chris Rumph (defensive line; formerly at Texas/Alabama) and Randy Shannon (linebackers; ex-Miami Hurricanes head coach).

By embracing what has worked on the other side of the ball, McElwain has already shown a stark contrast to his predecessor. When Muschamp, a coach with a defensive background, came to Florida, one of his first decisions was to try convert a spread option team to a traditional pro-style offense. There’s an argument that says that line of thinking doomed Muschamp from day one.

To be fair to Muschamp, the 2010 offense was an absolute mess. QB John Brantley, a natural pocket passer, was struggling to run former offensive coordinator Steve Addazio’s variation of the spread option. Muschamp’s hiring of pro-style offensive coordinator Charlie Weis looked great for Brantley’s senior season, but was a blatant mismanagement of five previous years of spread option recruiting by Urban Meyer, the coach who went 65-15 and won two national titles at Florida.

McElwain and Collins show no signs of wanting to change the Muschamp defense that has performed well in recent seasons (No. 8 total defense in 2013, No. 15 in 2014). While McElwain figures out the right offensive approach for a new quarterback, an inexperienced offensive line and skill position units lacking established playmakers, expect him to continue to lean on the “Muschamp defense.”